Naa Okromo, a young girl allegedly married to 63-year-old Nungua Gborbu Wulomo, and currently under the care and protection of the Ghana Police Service and the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has been released to the family.
He returned home on Thursday, April 18 in the evening.
This follows the signing of a bond by her parents to ensure that they observe child protection laws and protocols, while she is in their custody.
At an emergency press briefing in Accra, on Thursday morning, Madam Darkoa Newman, the Minister Designate for Gender, Children and Social Protection, said the Social Welfare Department had taken the girl through counselling, while the medical assessment conducted on her showed that she was a virgin.
“We would like you all to know that the medical assessment of the child indicates that she is not pregnant, and she has no immediate health concerns.
“Naa Okromo’s date of birth on records, at her creche and primary school she attended indicates that she is 15 years old and was born on 18th July 2008.
“The child will continue to pursue her education and the Attorney General has issued an interim report which is dated, 18th April 2024 and has advised that in the best interest of the child and by Sections 2 and 5 of the Children’s Act, the child should be released to her parents, pending their complete review of the docket”.
She added; “Thus, the child will be reunited with the family today, 18th April 2024 after the parents have signed a bond”.
It will be recalled that the alleged child marriage which occurred on Saturday, March 30, 2024, in Nungua, drew widespread attention and criticism.
However, Gborbu Wulomo explained that the ceremony does not mandate the girl to perform marital responsibilities like sex, as a section of the public is claiming.
The GaDangme Council in a statement dated, Monday, April 1, 2024, signed by its President, Ayikoi Otoo, also revealed that they had engaged with Gborbu Wulomo and his elders to address the controversial issue.
“It is important to clarify that the traditional ruler has stated that the relationship with the underage girl is a betrothal and not a marriage. This distinction to us has altered the legal implications”.
“We are inclined to side with the Gborbu Wulomo since the original reportage made the point that another ceremony awaited the girl to purify and prepare her for procreation”.
The Council also stressed that while marriage might involve an underage individual, it does not sanction the initiation of a sexual relationship with such a child.